Tonko: Health care bill 'is about freedom'

As the House entered the final hours of a year-long debate over how to redesign the nation’s medicalsystem, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., tonight delivered his closing argument in support of the Democrats’ health care measure.

“I will cast my vote in favor of putting the controls back into the hands of American families and small businesses and their doctors. No longer will insurance companies be able to hold people hostage by dropping and denying coverage. Small businesses will no longer see their premiums skyrocket and will not have to make the decision to stop offering health insurance to their employees because the costs have climbed too high.”

“Indeed, this bill is about freedom. Every American will now have the freedom from control of insurance companies and their record profits and will have the freedom to access the care they need when they need it.”

“Our seniors will have the freedom to enjoy Medicare for years to come and have the freedom from worrying about the costs of their prescription drugs.”

“The bottom line is whether the people in the Capital Region of New York will be better off and my answer is yes, absolutely, yes.”